Police catch motorist reading a book at the wheel (with video)

POLICE traffic officers have stopped 71 people for traffic offences on the M60 motorway as part of Operation Tramline - including someone reading a book at the wheel.

The covert operation began on Friday 1 May 2015 and saw officers from the Road Policing Unit patrol the M60 motorway in a HGV cab kitted out with recording equipment. The elevated position of the cab allowed officers to see into other HGVs and smaller vehicles and record offences as they were taking place.

Drivers were stopped for a number of offences including texting at the wheel, aggressive driving and reading a book at the wheel.

A total of 71 people were stopped, with 66 of them issued with tickets for driving without due care (potential penalty for which is a £100 fine and three points), one given an on the spot fine and one vehicle was seized.

Inspector Susan Redfern said: “The operation has been a big success and we are delighted with how it has gone.

“We have had some good results over the course of Op Tramline and I hope that those people who have been issued with penalties take their punishments to heart and stop committing offenses that are endangering the lives of other drivers.

“There’s been quite a range of reasons that we’ve stopped people for but I think probably the most unbelievable one was stopping one particular driver for reading a book at the wheel!”

To keep up to date with the GMP Traffic police, why not follow @gmptraffic on twitter.

Full breakdown of offences

Using a mobile phone: 50

Not in proper control of the vehicle: 4

No seat belt: 2

Use of motorway verge: 1

Construction and use (vehicle had a smashed windscreen): 1

Driving without due care: 9

Other: 4

Total: 71

Full breakdown of penalties

Words of advice given: 3

Traffic offence report (if offender has no previous then they will be offered the chance to do a course otherwise will be given a court date and potential points and fine): 66

Graduated fixed penalty notice (man reading a book at the wheel): 1

Section 165 seizure: 1

Total: 71

Full breakdown of vehicles stopped

HGV: 16

LGV: 14

Private vehicle: 41

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